Book Review
Mar. 2nd, 2025 05:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Whirlpool
by George Gissing
This novel from the 1890s chronicles the married life of Harvey Rolfe, a now independently well-off businessman, and Alma Frothingham, musically talented daughter of a banker. Upon their marriage, they determine to live simply and equally, eschewing the whirlpool of London society, ambition, and the striving for ever more wealth. They repair to Wales and are happy with a simple provincial life for a few years, but then they both begin to miss city life and Alma revives her ambitions for a musical career. Once back in the whirlpool, things gradually fall apart, leading to unhappiness and tragedy.
Gissing provides a very even-handed portrait of his complex characters and their marriage. While he is clear-eyed in his portrayal of Harvey and Alma's strengths and failings, he does not demonize either of them or make one of them the villain in the downfall of their relationship. Harvey is an essentially weak man lacking in direction and conviction. Alma, while genuinely talented, is ambitious for a music career as much for the sake of being admired and successful as for the music itself. Harvey's weakness makes him unable to either stick to his vision of a simple life or give Alma the support she wants and needs. Alma's desire to be a widely admired success leads her into a series of inadvisable social connections that lead her down questionable paths. I alternated between sympathizing with and being frustrated with each of them. The Whirlpool is a very good character study and look at the pitfalls of late Victorian city life.
by George Gissing
This novel from the 1890s chronicles the married life of Harvey Rolfe, a now independently well-off businessman, and Alma Frothingham, musically talented daughter of a banker. Upon their marriage, they determine to live simply and equally, eschewing the whirlpool of London society, ambition, and the striving for ever more wealth. They repair to Wales and are happy with a simple provincial life for a few years, but then they both begin to miss city life and Alma revives her ambitions for a musical career. Once back in the whirlpool, things gradually fall apart, leading to unhappiness and tragedy.
Gissing provides a very even-handed portrait of his complex characters and their marriage. While he is clear-eyed in his portrayal of Harvey and Alma's strengths and failings, he does not demonize either of them or make one of them the villain in the downfall of their relationship. Harvey is an essentially weak man lacking in direction and conviction. Alma, while genuinely talented, is ambitious for a music career as much for the sake of being admired and successful as for the music itself. Harvey's weakness makes him unable to either stick to his vision of a simple life or give Alma the support she wants and needs. Alma's desire to be a widely admired success leads her into a series of inadvisable social connections that lead her down questionable paths. I alternated between sympathizing with and being frustrated with each of them. The Whirlpool is a very good character study and look at the pitfalls of late Victorian city life.
